20 MAY 1966, Page 9

Divided They Stand I'm fascinated by Stanley Uys's report on

page 622 that one of the possible solutions for Rhodesia now being floated by Dr Verwoerd is partition. Ever since the crisis burst I've been waiting for this suggestion—although I rather expected it to come from us. For Whitehall has always had two standard answers to every tricky imperial problem: addition or subtraction, federation or partition. On the whole the second has stood the test of time better. Federation— tried in Central Africa, the West Indies and Aden —has everywhere failed. Partition--chosen for Ireland. India and Palestine (and nearly Cyprus, tool—has at least set old problems in a new context. Partitioning Rhodesia wouldn't be easy, but I doubt if we've heard the last of the idea.